Chapter 18 : The puppeteer needs a doll

Normally, strings wouldn’t be attached to a person’s shoulders and arms.

‘What the hell is he tied up in?’

While Seong-han Lee was making a bewildered face.

Jin-young Kang maintained a youthful smile.

[Shall I kill him?]

She gritted her teeth and suppressed her emotions as her lips moved erratically.

“Haha, you’re overreacting. You can’t just easily transfer a soldier because of various policies and regulations. You know that awakened individuals can’t be easily moved, right?”

Cheong Jin-ho’s face hardened like a bulldog’s. As if he had just lost his freshly caught prey.

“Who is she?”

“I’m an army liaison officer. I work for an awakened individual’s defense company.”

Jin-young Kang lied smoothly. Her acting skills were extraordinary.

Almost like a movie star.

“Which company?”

“It’s a new company, so you probably don’t know it. It came from the US, across the Pacific. We’re currently recruiting awakened individuals. This could reflect poorly on the Hunter Association.”

Jin-young Kang reacted sharply.

‘Now’s the time. Let’s figure out what’s wrong.’

Seong-han Lee stared intently at Cheong Jin-ho.

He could see the strings attached to him.

Like a string puppet.

The strings were moving Cheong Jin-ho around.

‘It’s not an ordinary string. It’s like mana.’

He could feel the wavelength. It was tough and thin, like a spider’s web.

His arms and limbs were connected.

They were deeply intertwined with his flesh.

‘He wouldn’t have that ability. Did he learn it recently?’

Seong-han Lee frowned.

[(EX) activates.]

[Identifying the essence of the target.]

What’s with the censored item?

Seong-han Lee felt that something was unusual, but there seemed to be no way to find out now.

《System: Information》

『Cheong Jin-ho』

□ Occupation: [Ronin·Solitary Swordsman]

□ Traits

[Sword Demon(S)], [First-Class Sword Saint(A)], [Weapon Polish(B+)], [Desperate Struggle(B+)], [Crisis Detection(C)], [Life as Thin as a Thread(D)] …

□ Skills

[Wind Thrust], [Draw Sword], [Breaking Slash], [Indiscriminate Butchering], [Breather], [Internal Explosion]

Ronin.

They mainly use swords and value honor. They can be seen as swordsmen from martial arts novels. Seong-han Lee had also seen them in his first military life.

The ronin class is a glass cannon in games.

Like ‘Master Yi’ and ‘Yasuo’ from League of Legends.

Looking back, in the early days, Cheong Jin-ho was passionate enough to burn himself out fighting. He became jaded after a few accidents.

‘Find those strings.’

[Ultra-Recon, the instruction has been confirmed.]

[Beginning analysis.]

[This is an unrecorded substance. It will take time to identify.]

Alright, it’s only a matter of time before it’s revealed. Now it’s time to figure out the intention.

He definitely didn’t call me here for a special appointment.

If that were the case, Jin-young Kang would have already taken action.

Recently, a new S-rank hunter, the [Puppeteer], might be involved.

“You’re the new S-rank.”

Cheong Jin-ho gestured with his chin at Seong-han Lee.

“Yes?”

“Don’t you know English? I said S-rank. When I looked at your abilities, there was a rank I’d never seen before.”

Cheong Jin-ho stubbed out the cigarette he was smoking in the ashtray.

“I was also in need of a good subordinate.”

That’s true.

Cheong Jin-ho was, to put it bluntly, a ‘leftover’.

His predecessors were all taken out like a bunch of sweet potatoes after an investigation by the National Intelligence Service.

‘Their crime was… being spies, I think.’

He heard that they had passed on information about awakened individuals to other countries.

So, he was the one who filled the vacant position.

Cheong Jin-ho’s face was full of wrinkles, perhaps due to the stress from several court battles.

“You need to grab onto the lifeline. Not those foreign things, but we, the people, must strive to stand on our own.”

Cheong Jin-ho showed a faint smile and glared at Seong-han Lee.

Then he gestured to the side.

“Seo-min Hong.”

“Yes, President.”

“Massage.”

“Yes, sir.”

Cheong Jin-ho, dressed in a shabby suit.

He put his legs up on the table and had Seo-min Hong massage his shoulders. As he relaxed his shoulders, he arrogantly gestured with his chin.

“Do you think this kind of behavior is appropriate in a formal setting?”

[What is that smell.]

Jin-young Kang frowned.

It was a strong smell of alcohol.

“Why don’t you be less of a stick in the mud and consider it meaningfully? It will only benefit you. 100 times, 1,000 times more!”

Seong-han Lee also considered it.

What if he transferred to the Hunter Association?

[I like Seong-han Lee too much. So I want there to be many Seong-han Lees. I should cut him in half and make two, right?!?!’]

I’d die.

The Kang sisters were currently obsessed with him.

It was a highly possible scenario.

****

-Are you sleeping?

-Are you sleeping?

-Yes.

-Sleep well.

-Sweet dreams.

-But are you really sleeping? It’s only 2 AM. We’re having a chat right now. For real. We’re grilling pork belly. ^_^(.jpg)

The attached image showed high-ranking officers grilling barbecue.

-There are many stars.

-Soldier. Won’t it be 4 hours until you wake up? Why don’t you come out and have some coffee? There are a lot of reports that came in this morning.

This level of threat.

Daily phone calls and text messages every 30 seconds.

He was already at his wit’s end.

He even went out to lunch on purpose for them.

“I found him.”

“Did you enjoy your ramen, Mr. Seong-han?”

“Kyaaaaa!”

“I’ll just have a bite. Give me your chopsticks. Ahem, don’t resist.”

“I’ll pay. Eat as much as you want.”

There, Seong-han Lee devoured three extra-large ramen bowls. The strangely smiling sisters, even more so.

Mi-young Kang’s obsession was especially strong!

[From: Mi-young Kang]

-Won’t you come out now? (03:30:31)

-Something big happened! I accidentally spilled espresso, come to my office immediately.(03:30:40) (.jpg)

-Are you ignoring a superior’s order? This could lead to a court-martial. (03:31:21)

-I’msorryIwasjustabitnervouspleasedon’tabandonmeandgoanywhere(03:31:54)

Me: Major, it’s 3 AM.(03:31:56)

-I know.(03:31:57)

They were such terrifying monsters.

If he declared here, “As a wild man, I will join the Hunter Association!”

He would definitely die, 100%.

In the worst-case scenario,

“Sister, I’ll take the head. Hehe. How nice and quiet. He’s handsome too. They say if the rooster crows, the household is ruined. He won’t crow anymore. Hehe.”

“Then I’ll take this.”

The Kang sisters would divide his upper and lower body and turn Seong-han Lee into Lee/Seong/Han.

Seong-han Lee swallowed hard.

****

“Won’t you do it?”

[I’llkillhimifhetransfersI’llkillhimifhetransfersI’llkillhimifhetransfersI’lltellmysisterandmakehimdopublicspeakingthatbastard.]

Jin-young Kang arrogantly rested her arm on the table and sent a murderous glare (+telepathy). The gaze was burdensome.

‘I know, I know better than anyone that I’m screwed.’

Seong-han Lee could read both of their thoughts through the favorability ability, although he didn’t have Professor X’s powers.

Ahem.

A quiet, dry cough. Seong-han Lee quietly spoke.

“…As a public servant, I am still serving the country. Also, I don’t think it’s right to be involved with other private organizations for public safety.”

“Are you still not aware of the ways of the world? The Hunter Association is also a public entity. Rather, that company is a private matter.”

“I want to gain combat experience.”

“What about after you’ve gained it?”

Jin-young Kang, who had been somewhat appeased, showed her murderous intent again.

[I’llkillhimifhetransfersI’llkillhimifhetransfersI’llkillhimifhetransfersI’lltellmysisterandmakehimdopublicspeakingthatbastard.]

“I want to live as a public servant.”

Oh, oh oh.

Honey dripped from Jin-young Kang’s eyes.

The fact that her eyes turned pink… was probably due to color blindness. He didn’t pay much attention to it. Seong-han Lee slowly moved his chair back.

[You have gained ‘Jin-young Kang’s’ trust.]

[You have aroused ‘Jin-young Kang’.]

[She interpreted your recent action as ‘wanting to be dependent on ‘Jin-young Kang’.]

[You have satisfied ‘Jin-young Kang’s’ possessiveness.]

[Favorability level has increased.]

[Favorability level has increased.]

[Current favorability level is Lv. 37.]

As much as 2 levels!

Damn it, I’m already looking forward to what kind of favorability trait I’ll get. Seong-han Lee quietly listened to her voice.

[This sly fox. Should I just kidnap him? Should I forge a transfer application by stealing his seal? Or should I drug him?]

Please don’t.

Seong-han Lee swallowed hard.

[Favorability level has increased.]

[Favorability level has increased.]

‘f*ck.’

Such a bizarre sight.

Cheong Jin-ho seemed to have had enough and rolled his tongue.

He didn’t say anything despite Seong-han Lee’s numerous rejections, trying to embody the saying ‘if you try ten times, there’s no tree that won’t fall’ with his rough talk.

“It seems like it’s getting too late.”

“Ahem, we’re not done yet!”

‘The discussion about Seong-han Lee’s post-discharge plans and the forced transfer of decision-making authority’ continued for hours.

Seong-han Lee checked the analog clock.

It was roughly 4:30 PM.

He didn’t know how long he had been held there. He started to doze off.

Wasn’t Mi-young Kang worried?

[Favorability level has increased.]

[Favorability level has increased.]

Ugh, it went up again.

Now he was hungry too.

Lunchtime had already passed.

Even the nearby restaurants were almost as expensive as gold.

Seong-han Lee wanted to leave this uncomfortable place quickly.

Of course, he had to get the hunter’s license. He came all the way here to shorten his discharge period by two months, so he couldn’t go back empty-handed.

“How about we stop here? You’re an important person, so you shouldn’t be tied up with such trivial matters.”

[I’m going to slit his that crazy old man’s throat and bury him in the EastSea.]

Seong-han Lee detected a dangerous undercurrent in the conference room.

It wasn’t just because Jin-young Kang was emanating a dominating aura and glaring at Cheong Jin-ho.

If she wanted to kill Cheong Jin-ho, she would need three or four Jin-young Kangs.

‘The strings have increased.’

In a moment of carelessness, he could see thin strings intermittently appearing and disappearing.

The number was gradually increasing.

They were still attached to the association’s aides and President Cheong Jin-ho.

“She’s not someone who wouldn’t notice, she’s not stupid.”

Seong-han Lee tapped Jin-young Kang, who was sitting next to him, with his elbow.

Thwack!

“I didn’t have any thoughts. I definitely wasn’t feeling murderous.”

She’s glaring with murderous intent though.

“Of course not! I’m a strong woman who loves rabbits, trees, and nature.”

She flinched and smiled, whispering while putting a hand on her chest.

Then, she leaned in close and whispered in a voice only Seong-han Lee could hear.

“But what is it?”

“Isn’t it strange?”

“What is?”

“The strings.”

“Strings?”

Jin-young Kang looked around.

“There are no strings. What are you talking about.”

“Damn it.”

“Huh?”

Seong-han Lee wasn’t one for beating around the bush. It was a habit ingrained in him from serving in the military twice. He didn’t know he would use it here.

“…I’m sorry.”

He could identify things that others couldn’t see.

Thanks to [Ultra-Recon]’s ability, which allowed him to check other people’s status windows. He didn’t know the name properly, though.

“Would you like a drink?”

“Let’s not drink during the day.”

“What a way to ruin the mood, not drinking when you’re young.”

Cheong Jin-ho poured a clear, high-alcohol whiskey into a glass and drank it.

It was awkward.

‘Ultra-Recon, have you figured that guy out?’

[I have confirmed the intention.]

[Relaying the information.]

[First of all, the target is not ‘human’. In other words, it is not a living being.]

‘An imitation.’

[That is the highest possibility, at 98.7%.]

[It is presumed to be an imitation made of chaotic magic.]

[Most of the beings in this interior are imitations.]

[Except for Jin-young Kang.]

‘So it’s not human.’

Seong-han Lee’s face turned cold.

‘If that being is an imitation, there must be someone controlling it.’

[Found it.]

Where.

[penetrates the essence of the target.]

《System: Information》

Trickster Seo-min Hong

□ Occupation: [Puppeteer]. [S-Rank Hunter]

□ Traits

[High-Level Puppetry(SS)], [Perception Inhibition(S)], [Sociopath(A)], [Conqueror(A)], [Sadistic(A)], [Ruthless(B)] …

□Skills

[Puppet Command-Grasp], [Puppet Command-Delirium], [Puppet Summon], [String Weaving], [High-Level Hypnosis], [Issue Orders] …

[Overall assessment: Excels in using numbers through puppets. However, the abilities of each puppet under control are significantly inferior. Caution required.]

Seong-han Lee observed Seo-min Hong.

Seo-min Hong made eye contact with Seong-han Lee without any expression.

Crackling!

[‘Mental Barrier’ blocks ‘High-Level Hypnosis’.]

It was a trap.